Phil Bickford, a minor league pitching prospect in the Brewers’ organization, was suspended 50 games after testing positive for a drug of abuse, news emerged on Friday.
This is Bickford’s second time testing positive for a drug of abuse. He first tested positive for marijuana before the draft in 2015.
The first positive test didn’t stop the Giants from taking him No. 18 overall...

There's a comparison to make. It's not a perfect comparison, but it’s at least a thinking-face-emoji one. Something I think about a lot: Just how excited we would be about Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker in another era. Finally, the Giants are just letting the kids* play. Finally, there are no Steve Finleys or Randy Winns to block our sweet, sweet John Bowkers and Dan Ortmeiers...

The Giants can consider themselves fortunate -- with emphasis on "fortune" -- to have been the first team to leap into the market for a free-agent closer at baseball's Winter Meetings, which concluded Thursday.

The San Francisco Giants got their man, Mark Melancon, lllnd it’s almost like game 4 of the NLDS never happened! But seriously, this closer is the real deal — just look at his resume. He’s a 3x All-Star, finished 8th in the Cy Young voting for Pittsburgh in 2015, and he has pitched to a sub-2.30 ERA each season since 2013. Now that the Giants have locked down their 9th inning...

No, seriously, is the offseason over? Earlier in the week, I reminded everybody that the Giants’ talk of being maxed out on payroll could be a smokescreen. There’s no advantage to declaring a desperate remaining need; there’s every advantage in promising little, delivering big.
I would like to hedge my bets, if I may.
The headlines aren’t encouraging. From The Chronicle...

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A person with knowledge of the talks says the San Francisco Giants have agreed to trade right-hander Chris Heston to the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the swap isn't final. The Giants didn't have a spot for the 28-year-old in their rotation featuring Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, Jeff...

The recipient of a famous Buster Hug is on the market, according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. This is the trade rumor Giants fans deserve, but not the one we need right now. According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, the Giants are shopping Chris Heston. While it’s likely to be a move that clears 40-man roster space, it ... no, that’s just about it. This will not be the centerpiece...

The first of the big closers is off the free agent market, and he’s getting a whole lot of money.
Mark Melancon and the San Francisco Giants are reportedly in agreement on a four-year deal that will shatter Jonathan Papelbon’s record $50 million closer deal.
Sources: The Giants and Mark Melancon have agreed to a deal, pending a physical; Melancon is going through his physical...

The San Francisco Giants enter the offseason with two needs, one monumental and the other small. The gigantic need is a closer and the other need is a power hitting outfielder. Those needs are obvious, but there’s one more question that hasn’t been addressed. Who is the fifth starter?
There are a number of reasons why the fifth starter question is not addressed. Fifth starters...

That’s right San Francisco Giants fans, “The Kung-Fu Panda” may be making a comeback. There have been rumors circulating that the San Francisco Giants are interested in trading for Pablo Sandoval from the Boston Red Sox. The two-time All-Star has struggled mightily after moving over to the American League and signing a five year, $95 million dollar contract with the Red Sox...

Could a reunion between the San Francisco Giants and Pablo Sandoval be in the cards?
According to Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald, the Giants have had internal discussions about trading for Sandoval, a current Red Sox third baseman and former Giant.
It is unclear whether the Red Sox would actively entertain such a proposal, or more likely, whether the two teams could make a...

San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence has become famous for a wide variety of things, from scooters to facial expressions to signs mocking him, but dressing as the titular character from the 2004 movie "Napoleon Dynamite" is a new one. That’s what Pence did for Halloween Monday night, though:
Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills! @letsgetlexi pic.twitter...

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